Inset Circles Tips and Tricks

I was carried away, I just kept making circles for my “Circle Sampler”

My current demo project is a block of the month project focussing on curved piecing.  There are curved strips, inset circles and inset ovals.

One circle technique does not “fit” all!  

The size of the circle will dictate the method to use.  For the 6” finished inset circles - a simple sewn in method can be used.  


Success with the simple sewn is method in part comes down to correct sizing of the circle and the frame and pressing peaks and valleys.  

For my 6” finished circle I cut a 6 1/2” diameter circle and a 5 1/2” circle out of an 8” square frame.  There should be a 1” difference in the size of the circle to be inset when compared to the size of the circle cut out of the frame.  Once the circle has been sewn into the frame, the block was trimmed to 6 1/2” square.

Make it easy on yourself and press peaks and valleys!  Press your inset circle in quarters wrong sides together.  Press again into eighths with wrong sides together.  You will have eight press marks in total.  

Then press the “frame” in quarters right sides together, the wrong side of the fabric will be on the outside.  Press the frame in eighths again right sides together.  When you align the press marks a peak on the inset circle should align with a valley on the frame all around the circle with no repressing!  

The peaks and valley alignment will make it easier to match up the circle and frame accurately!  Try this and let me know how it works!